Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-13.2° (−12° to −18°)
19:37:46
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 8m of true darkness · 13h 34m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:20
Civil Dusk18:51
Nautical19:27
Full Dark20:02
Nadir01:06
Dark Ends06:10
Nautical06:46
Civil Dawn07:22
Sunrise07:53
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE25.4°
DISTANCE380,282 km
Moonrise16:54
Moonset05:39
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX40% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
68/100
Fine observing conditions. Open star clusters and nebulae will exhibit crisp structure.
CLOUD COVER15%
HUMIDITY50%
VISIBILITY18 km
DEW POINT10.8°C
| PLANET | STATUS | MAGNITUDE | ALTITUDE | AZIMUTH | CONSTELLATION | RISE | TRANSIT | SET | EQUIPMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venus♀ | Below Horizon | -4.3 | -19.0° | 264° | Libra | 08:22 | 13:01 | 17:40 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -25.1° | 339° | Leo | 01:47 | 08:58 | 16:06 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 18.3° | 109° | Pisces | 17:45 | 23:53 | 06:01 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -23.3° | 348° | Cancer | 00:56 | 08:23 | 15:49 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -7.2° | 247° | Libra | 10:00 | 14:25 | 18:49 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Below Horizon | 5.6 | -0.7° | 56° | Taurus | 19:42 | 03:24 | 11:10 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 21.5° | 116° | Pisces | 17:23 | 23:23 | 05:24 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:54
BEST TIME23:09S · 44° high
SETS05:39
Reaches about 44° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:47
BEST TIME08:58S · 57° high
SETS16:06
Reaches about 57° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:45
BEST TIME23:53S · 44° high
SETS06:01
Reaches about 44° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES08:22
BEST TIME13:01S · 24° high
SETS17:40
Reaches about 24° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:56
BEST TIME08:23S · 60° high
SETS15:49
Reaches about 60° above the horizon at its highest point.Distinctive crimson hue; polar ice cap discernible near opposition.
M31 / NGC 224 · Andromeda
Spiral Galaxy (2.5M ly)Andromeda Galaxy
Our galactic neighbor; visible as a ghostly oval smudge with dense radiant stellar core.
M45 · Taurus
Open Star ClusterThe Pleiades (Seven Sisters)
Breathtaking blue diamond cluster enshrouded in delicate interstellar reflection nebulosity.
M42 / NGC 1976 · Orion
Diffuse Emission NebulaGreat Orion Nebula
Star nursery harboring the brilliant Trapezium cluster with sprawling bat-wing filaments.
NGC 869 & NGC 884 · Perseus
Twin Open ClustersThe Double Cluster
Pair of spectacular shimmering jewel-boxes bursting with ruby supergiant stars.
M13 / NGC 6205 · Hercules
Globular Cluster (300k stars)Great Globular Cluster in Hercules
Massive beehive of ancient stars packed tightly together into a blazing central ball.
M57 / NGC 6720 · Lyra
Planetary NebulaThe Ring Nebula
Delicate glowing smoke-ring left behind by a dying star 2,500 light-years away.
